May 1, 2019
No. 102
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) welcomes the resolution passed unanimously by the US Senate on April 30 reaffirming the US commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act.
The resolution (S.Con.Res.13) was introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Its original cosponsors included four other influential Senators: Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee; James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee; Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Democratic Member of the Foreign Relations Committee; and Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity. The resolution was additionally cosponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Johnny Isakson (R-GA). This highlighted the staunch bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US Congress.
This Senate resolution was consistent with a unanimous resolution passed by voice vote in the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 9. It reaffirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances are cornerstones of US policy with respect to Taiwan, and encourages visits between US and Taiwan officials at all levels. In addition, it urges the US President to conduct regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan in accordance with existing law, including the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, as well as explore opportunities to expand and deepen bilateral economic and trade relations with Taiwan. The resolution also calls upon the US Secretary of State to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and recognizes Taiwan’s partnership in combating terrorism and involvement in global humanitarian endeavors.
As we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, such a concrete show of unwavering support for Taiwan—as reflected in the joint sponsorship of the resolutions by leading Members of the US Senate and House of Representatives from both parties—is highly significant. MOFA once again thanks the US Congress for its endorsement, and looks forward to further pragmatic bilateral cooperation and the steady deepening of the Taiwan-US partnership. (E)